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Ever changed your mind? Your endorsement (“No on Measure Y“) states that Mark Lee intends building Veronica Meadows on 50 acres. This is a smearing of the facts. Mark Lee intends to build Veronica Meadows on 14.8 acres, and 44 acres of open space with a six-acre park.

Yes, there will be an impact – a bridge, construction; changes. When all is said and done the area will be improved, cleaned up, accessible to the public, and safer – much safer. Creek restoration, removal of non-native plants, and revegetating with native species. You we “We are not certain Arroyo Burro actually needs with kind of medicine.” ?????? Granted, there are no crystal balls, but there is plenty of broken glass, trash, etc. that is not going away!

A word about “urban transit lines.” There is a bus stop at Las Positas and Jerry Harwin Parkway. Not to mention is entirely possible to walk there from the Indy office via the Micheltorena overpass and on to Valerio street, entering Elings Park the back way, near the park headquarters. Anybody can do it. I’m in my late ‘60s and I can do it. With that in mind, a creekside path to Alan Road and Hendry’s would mean you could walk from downtown to Hendry’s. Still, there’s that pesky Las Positas crossing. But wait! The Daily Sound reported this week that the Santa Barbara City Council “will pursue control” of Las Positas between Cliff Drive and Highway 101. Helene Schneider was quoted as saying, “By moving forward here, we are opening up opportunities never thought of before.” Hmmm. Could that include a stop light???

Please re-read the City Attorney’s “Impartial Analysis of Measure Y – 2012.” The third paragraph states, “could result in some environmental impacts,” “could impact wildlife,” “could result in noise during construction” (pretty likely actually). The bridge “abutments,” which is where the bridge comes in contact with the ground, will be permanent, hence “no feasible mitigation measures.” The tall, dense riparian habitat – mostly bamboo – could be home for those dusky-footed woodrats. But bamboo? A chiefly topical plant – a native plant?? Doubtful, very doubtful. Very doubtful indeed!

Judging Measure Y from the mailings turned out to be an easy task. As a local who with a great neighborhood spent 19 years preserving Ellwood Mesa, I think we learned to recognize it all – developer-speak, biostitution (science for the money, honey) and pretty much every bona fide ecologist, land conservationist, neighborhood association, faculty, or land use group we have. We know how neighbors get courted for signatures and when there’s bull being slung around.

I checked the fine print on this developer’s Yes on Y pieces – out of a few dozen listed supporters, not one name belonged to a credible conservationist. (Two I recognized as transportation activists, neither representing a related group.) But with Measure Y, even an outsider could make a bull’s-eye guess how to vote. It’s “no.” All you have to do is weigh the stack of slick, greeny-blue “yes’ promos against the few “no” pieces. Does anybody think the guys with the money buy our attention these days by hogging media everywhere but here? I will send this local specimen a message at the ballot box. No! – Christina Lange, Goleta

Christina Lange is the president of Friends of the Ellwood Coast

Comments

Carol Bemis makes an excellent point about the walking, jogging or hiking connection from downtown all the way to Arroyo Burro/Hendrys Beach. It is a very desirous path.While the crossing at Las Positas may be troublesome or worrisome to parents there are many times throughout the day that you can cross at this location without harm and still there are existing alternate places to cross when not safe for abilities. The path from the Modoc, Samarkand and San Roque direction will be improved as well. And it could free up at least a couple beach parking spots on those busy summer weekends or at the Boathouse. This is just the type of human powered alternatives we need citywide. There are many ideas but the opportunities are not looked at because they're not part of the project that everyone is focused on. Again great point Carol and lets hope enough people will vote Yes on Y.

Let's hope people will cast a smart NO on Y. Some people act as if this is a high pedestrian area or is meant to be. Never has been, never should be. There are enough areas in town that need renovation and renewal without giving away public property for private profit and further degrading our local ecosystem.

Excellent point Ken. The Yes on Y proponents make it sound like Westsiders are going to come streaming out of the hills once this wonderful bridge is built. There are already "safe" options from the Westside via Flora Vista to Douglas Preserve, but I don't see many people making the trek. Let's not kid ourselves anymore. In the end, the project is about the profit Mark Lee will make in pushing his development project forward, not about providing safe access to the beach or restoring creeks.

A long time ago Mr. Lee got a very good deal on a large relatively worthless (economically) parcel. He has been trying to make chicken salad out that chicken s#$t ever since. This most recent proposal is a bad deal for the citizens of Santa Barbara (except for Lee). Vote no on Y.

My spouse got a very pseudo-personal letter from Mark Lee, "pre-sorted first class" stamp, and in it he never mentions the 25 McMansions he will put up if the bridge is voted in. Happily, she got this on June 1st and had already voted NO ON Y! on her absentee ballot. Mark, Mark, it's over dude, back to the drawing board for you and your development company. There are many areas in our City which need help, Veronica Meadows does not.

2. If built on, the 44 acres would provide views of the roofs of the Stone Creek condos ... who would pay millions for a home with a view like that?

3. The 44 acres are therefore not prime development land.

4. The 44 acres will still be private land with no public access.

5. The 44 acres is rugged and filled with head-high brush, it is not a place to walk dogs or kids. I know, I have hiked it.

In summary, the 44 acres of "Open Space" is simply a part of the property that the developer knows is not a prime development area, so he's choosing not to build there and is calling it "Open Space" to look like a concession.

EastBeach is a liar. EastBeach is not a real name. Whomever EastBeach is, while normally astute, also has some recreational conflict of interests. From Alan Road and other directions a clique of a certain recreation group trespass and access this property. There are trails that circle through the property and seem heavily used. Perhaps some people just want to keep this property for themselves.

I just don't understand what is this opposition to new or improved public, walking and biking paths. Seems to be such a turn-around from our environmental movement of just a few decades ago.

Just because EastBeach posts facts under a pseudonym doesn't make the facts suddenly lies. Mark Lee is the liar, and people who believe him are sadly duped.We've explained the opposition numerous times Don, you're just too self-absorbed to ever ponder other possibilities once you've decided you are correct and the rest of the world is wrong.

Your remark that some people just want to keep this property to themselves, who would that be? The citizens of Santa Barbara who own it!

"From Alan Road and other directions a clique of a certain recreation group trespass and access this property."-- DonMcDermott

Let's put that lie to rest right now ...

Long ago before Mark Lee purchased Veronica Meadows, there was a small BMX and dirt bike track on the property (nothing fancy, no structures, just a bunch of dirt). At the time, there was no gate and no signs. Neighborhood kids regularly used the track and although I didn't live nearby, I rode the track a few times myself. That track was removed sometime around 2000 (?). Sometime after that, the gate went up.

I laugh to think that DonMcDermott imagines there are still kids riding the track today when that hasn't happened in maybe 10 or 12 years.

I hadn't been back to Veronica Meadows until the Measure Y brouhaha. Last month, I decided to check out the creek, etc. as described in previous posts.

After that visit, I could see the big picture and understand the physical aspects of the property related to the proposed development. It then became clear to me the mailers sent by the developer's media consultant are so much propaganda and greenwashing.

"There are trails that circle through the property and seem heavily used. Perhaps some people just want to keep this property for themselves."-- DonMcDermott

Let's put that misconception to bed as well ...

If you use Google Maps or Google Earth to view Veronica Meadows, the aerial view shows many trails crossing the property. However, note the copyright date on the satellite images ... the most recent tile is from 2000!

A visit to Veronica Meadows today reveals a completely different picture. All but the main dirt road near Alan Rd are gone. The trails are heavily overgrown with over-head brush and impossible to find, even with a map.

Google Maps implies there is a trail from Alan Rd. to the Hidden Valley neighborhood. But that trail no longer exists as it is completely overgrown. We tried to walk that trail from Valle Verde but were stopped by mountains of poison oak after only 150 yards.

So DonMcDermott is absolutely incorrect ... Veronica Meadows is NOT currently being used by hikers, joggers, or bikers who "want it for themselves".

The entire property would make a great recreational area similar to Elings Park. Virgil, where are you? (probably out riding one of his motorcycles).

Don, I think you are confused in stating that opponents to Prop Y are in “opposition to new or improved public, walking and biking paths.” From the posts that I’ve read, most of us are opposed to (1) the green-washing of this project by Mark Lee, (2) the development itself, (3) the exaggerated claims of benefits to safety and creek habitat, or (4) giving away city park land for a developers benefit. Already voted No on Y

McDermott notwithstanding as a curiously enchanted supporter, this letter to editor here continues the same tired and grotesque Errors of Omission that have been the entirety of the Yes-on-Y side here. Their mailers and teevee ads utterly fail to mention this is a luxury or any kind of housing project. That is reason enough to vote No, as is the traffic congestion generated, water quality degradation, and inducement for more Orange County residents to retire here.

I just cannot decide of Mark Lee et al. or Steve Pappus are the Biggest Losers with their campaigns of lies and deceit during this election.

cool down, Don, your rancor and epithets against others is silly. Also, people stop reading your posts or considering anything of value in them. We've all already heard your rants vs. the pseudonymous aspect of these artificial names...heck, lotta folks thought I was Dr Dan Secord but I am not, try drdan93109.But we lost the thread: Driftwood summed up the opposition to Y efficiently. I continue to get misleading letters, live phone calls from very young people who don't really know what they're arguing for BUT they like Mark Lee's company's money. Oversold, overwrought, overcome: NO on Y.

I risked my life to ride down Las Positas and back up neighborly Alan Rd and trespassed through the property a couple weeks ago. I didn't encounter anyone else while I followed the creek and the trails to what appears to me to be fresh bmw tracks or even dirtbike tracks. It could be the owner for all I know. But wouldn't it be nice to have access to the above mentioned now overgrown trails by easement so that people could hike or ride. I know that is not part of this project but lets talk about what we do want and how we're going to get it while being fair to property owners.

The thing is that everyone comes out of the woodwork when someone else wants to develop their property. Wilcox property was prevented from developing senior housing. Low income housing would be and is vigorously fought at this location and elsewhere. Luxury housing whether at Veronica Meadows or Chapala Street are also fought. But the city, county, state needs property taxes and the community needs amenities and creek restoration. This developer is willing to pay for at least some of it.

It’s funny you mention “being fair to property owners.” After all, who owns the sliver of property behind this whole Prop Y? It’s the city of Santa Barbara and, by decree, its citizens have the right to vote on the giveaway of this property to benefit developer Mark Lee. Mark Lee has the right to develop his property, we have the right to cast a No vote and not give away city park land.

DrDan (93101 not 93109) I don't care all that much about people using pseudonyms except when maligning other people. People stick their neck out in public all the time, V.Meadows property owner has and so it is a little one-sided for you to chastise me while others are using terms like "Lie," or liar, "Y is a lie." "Fake" is fairly loaded when used to describe Ms. Bemis's. So with real identities maybe I'll consider opinions with a little more respect and maybe even cool down a little.

great, Don, and it's true that with pseudonyms those verbal drive-byes are much easier to fall into..."Fake" is strong, as were your terms. When you state that the V. Meadows property owner should get more respect because he has in your view 'stuck his neck out in public' -- uh, he's a capitalist and land developer, his COMPANY would have profited hugely if Y had passed [glad it didn't], so he garners no special "respect" for pushing to build some huge mansions for the 1%. Just profits, Don, not really much courage.